Sculpture and painting are very justly called liberal arts; a lively and strong imagination, together with a just observation, being absolutely necessary to excel in either; which, in my opinion, is by no means the case of music, though called a liberal art, and now in Italy placed even above the other two—a proof of the decline of that country.

Ironically, the young Philip was enjoying both sacred and secular music in Italy, had young friends who were amateur musicians, and fell in love with an accomplished singer and harpsichordist, Eugenia Pieters, whom he later married—all without his father's knowledge.